CONTROVERSY OVER ALLOWING SHIRDI SAI BABA'S 'PADUKAS' INTO TIRUMALA TEMPLE

02nd Feb`2012

On 01st Feb`2012, for the 4th consecutive year in a row, an entourage of over 600 Sai devotees from Maharashtra's Shree Sai Balaji Charitable Trust`Shirdi-Kopargaon came to Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala Temple carrying Sai Baba's Photo / Silver Padukas (Footwear) & Shri Venkateswara's Photo in a Palkhi. As they got out from the Tirupati Railway Station and after rituals at Alipiri, they took out a procession along the temple streets while dancing their way towards the Shri.Venkateswara Temple alongside the sounds of Drums and chants of 'Sai Baba Ki Jay' (Hail Sai Baba) and 'Govinda Govinda'. As soon as they reached the Temple, the Trust Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) not only welcomed the entourage into the Shri.Venkateswara Temple, but also carried Shirdi Sai Baba's Silver Padukas ensconced in a glass case on his head and entered the temple right into the Sanctum Sanctorum of the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.

This incident had caught the top brass of the 'TTD' is in the eye of a storm. Many priests & Seers condemned this move saying that "Sai Baba might be a divine figure, but he was a human being and Carrying his footwear into the Shri.Venkateswara Temple is blasphemy and is an alleged violation of established customs of the Tirumala Tirupati shrine. Various public, political and religious groups have also raised objections on this incident, saying that it would be a sacrilege of the 2,000-year-old ancient Hindu temple tradition.

Q) Entering a temple with footwear is considered to be blasphemy as per Hindu traditions. But is it a sacrilege to carry footwear belonging to another Deity? Ans) As per the customs in vogue in the Tirumala temple, no other deity or any religious insignia' other than that of Lord Venkateswara can be taken beyond the Mahadwaram'-- the main entrance, leave alone carrying them into the Sanctum Sanctorum. What baffles many is what were the TTD Authorities, Priests and Jeeyangars, who were mandated to ensure strict adherence to the rules & regulations, doing when Sai Baba's Padukas' were carried in a procession into the temple, in violation of the Principles of Sastras'. As per legend, even Lord Venkateswara himself left behind his footwear at Alipiri Padala Mandapam before going to Tirumala and Saint amanujacharya had also trekked the holy Tirumala hills on his knees. The TTD had also prohibited wearing footwear in the temple streets at Tirumala.

Speaking on this controversy the 'TTD' said that they had only accorded a traditional welcome' to all the Sai devotees at Tirumala and provided them darshan and as for carrying Sai Baba's Padukas past 'Dwaja Stambam', was nothing controversial as the Padukas were made of silver and were meant for worship and not to to be used as footwear.

Defending the TTD Trust Boards Chairman initiative in this regard, the Chairman of Chittoor Shirdi Sai Baba Charitable Trust said that certain vested elements without comprehending the preachings and ideology of Shirdi Sai Baba were raising unwanted & unacceptable doubts just to create confusion among the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam authorities & Lord Venkateswara's devotees. She reiterated that it had become a sacred tradition of carrying the Sai Padukas all the way from Shirdi to Tirumala in order to respect the sentiments of Hindus. She said that above 1 lakh devotees per day from the India & abroad visit Shirdi. She recalled that there were a number of Sai Baba Temples in the district comparatively equal or more to Ramalayams. Both Lord Venkateswara & Sadguru Sai Baba are one and the same. One should keep the sloka Sarvadeva Namaskaram Kesavam Prathigathyati (Aditya Hrudayam) in mind. According to Bhagavid Gita also, Lord Krishna tells that Sadgurus are his replicas, she added. She appealed to the devotees not to discriminate among the Gods, as God is one in different forms. She said most devotees of Lord Venkateswara worship Shirdi Sai Baba also.

On yOur way,while Driving, if yOu see a "Dead End" rOad Sign, but yet cOntinue to Drive ahead..... bOOmmmm !!!..........yOu are dOOmed ! Because, merely reading the Sign is nOt enOugh, yOu have tO gOt tO fOllOw it tOO !

Likewise, On yOur way, while Spiritualizing, if yOu read the Teachings of Sai Baba, but yet cOntinue to act as yOu Wish..... bOOmmmm !!!..........yOu are dOOmed ! Because, merely reading the Teachings is nOt enOugh, yOu have tO gOt tO fOllOw them tOO !

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